 I'm Heather LaBarbera, an English teacher from Kentucky, and I'm thrilled to receive an NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. By being selected for this award, my students will be allowed to explore links between their own lives and people, places, and issues throughout the world. What do you think the mood of this story is? The advice I would give to someone who is submitting an application for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence will be that no matter the outcome, this process will improve their quality of teaching. By submitting an application, they are making a commitment to analyze their prior teaching experiences and build on these reflections. To state affiliate leaders who may be considering nominating an educator for the award, I would recommend looking for candidates that are proven in the classroom, advocates for the profession and organization, and are dedicated to moving the organization forward on the local, state, and national levels. Awardees are nominated by their state affiliate for demonstrating excellence in instruction, professional advocacy and leadership, attention to diversity, and community engagement. These educators deserve our recognition and our thanks. Please join me in showing your appreciation by nominating an outstanding educator from your state. The deadline for nomination is May 1st. Visit NEAFoundation.org for details.